1. Don’t be a “resolutioner” — Get started NOW! It only takes a few weeks to make exercising a habit. Don’t give up early and break your resolution. Turn it into part of your daily routine before the gym gets crowded!
2. Set some goals. Make sure to set SMART goals, and you’ll be well on your way to getting or staying in shape. Take the extra step to actually write them down and put them somewhere you’ll see them every day.
3. Have a plan. People get lost and disinterested at the gym when they don’t know what they’re going to do (upper body, lower body, cardio, etc.). Take some time before you go to decide what you’re going for and stick to it.
4. Do your research. For every one fitness method or technique that works, there’s a dozen more that don’t. Take some time to do some reading on workout methods and create a knowledge-based approach that works for you.
5. It’s a holiDAY, not the holidays. Holidays are, in fact, only one day. Don’t spoil all of your hard work by binging on unhealthy habits for several days.
6. Feast smart. Of course, you should enjoy your holiday feasts, but there’s a smart way to do it. Load up your first plate with veggies and lower fat meats. This will keep your overall calories lower and fill you up so you don’t binge too much later in the meal.
7. Get outside, eat some fish and drink some OJ. These three things are some of the best ways to get vitamin D, which many people lack during the low-sunlight winter months. Vitamin D deficiency can cause joint aches and pains and stomach issues.
8. Don’t sit around. Throw off that puffy winter coat and go take a walk outside! Exercising in the cold has been shown to help you burn fat faster than exercising at normal room temperatures.
9. Find a workout partner. All of our buddies from high school are back home for the winter, and some of us might be on our way to the dreaded “freshman 15.” What better way to catch up with an old pal or reconnect with a sibling than to meet up at the gym a few times a week?
10. Invest in some fitness DVDs or online workout videos. If you live in the North like I do, you know there are some days that you get snowed in. Don’t let snow keep you from staying fit! Find a fun home workout program that will help you stay on track, be it yoga, P90x or even Zumba.
11. As always, drink responsibly. Not just for your safety as well as others’, but because alcohol is full of empty calories! Just one of your favorite holiday brews can have 200 calories.
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